IN THE TASK OF BUILDING MEN 87
 The signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918,
 brought to an end the immediate necessity for training stu-
 dents for warfare, and necessitated a vast amount of work in
 getting military training back to a peace time condition. But
 the spirit of military training had been quickened on the cam-
 pus of the University of Florida, and Dr. Murphree held be-
 fore CoL Walker and the military staff the aim of building up
 an honor Reserve Officers Training Corps at Florida.
 The University was placed on the honor list for the first
 time in 1919. At this time there were 400 students in the bat-
 talion. It was a signal honor for Florida, for the inspectors
 from the War Department in Washington declared the Florida
 battalion to be among the best six in the country.
 In 1919 CoL Walker was retired by the government as
 head of the R. O. T. C. at the University, and the appointment
 was given to Major Ward. CoL Walker has maintained his
 connection with the University, however, and in discussing his
 relationship with Dr. Murphree, said:
 "I knew him both officially and socially and he was one
 of the best friends I ever had. He believed in the value of
 military training, for he felt that it was splendid discipline,
 and everyone who came in contact with him knew how definite
 were his ideas of discipline.
 "Dr. Murphree was good natured always, but was espe-
 cially genial, friendly and full of humor when we would be
 taking trips together. Before Gainesville had a golf course,
 we used to go to nearby cities to play. It was as a golf player
 that the human traits in Dr. Murphree's character became most
 apparent. He kicked about bad shots and was elated over good
 ones. He always made it a point to get the best clubs on the
 market"
 Col. Walker recalls that on a return trip from St. Augus-
tine, where he and Doctor Murphree had gone to arrange the
details in connection with the gift of the University organ, they
were accosted by a man in ragged clothing who asked them
for a ride as far as Palatka, saying he was an ex-service man
who had been wounded during the war. Dr. Murphree picked
him up and talked to him as cordially and with the same
friendly interest he showed to all persons, and had made a
friend of him when he left him at Palatka.